Sabrina Ionescu out at least 2 weeks in early Liberty setback

Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu will watch Friday’s season opener in street clothes.

Ionescu is expected to miss at least two weeks after suffering a left foot injury in Sunday’s preseason finale against the Connecticut Sun, a team source told The Post.

Further examination Monday, including an MRI exam, showed Ionescu avoided “significant injury,” the source said.

She’ll be reevaluated in two weeks.

Ionescu rolled her left ankle after attempting a reverse layup early in the third quarter. She got up and limped straight to the locker room. The team ruled her out for the remainder of the game shortly after.

Following the Liberty’s 79-67 win, coach Chris DeMarco confirmed Ionescu rolled her ankle. He said her outlook was “positive.”

Ionescu was seen leaving the arena with a boot on her left foot. Breanna Stewart said her teammate was in “good spirits” and is “tough as a cookie.” 

Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu drives by the Sun’s Charlisse Leger-Walker during a WNBA preseason game at Mohegan Sun Arena on May 3, 2026. Getty Images

Ionescu suffered a Grade 3 sprain to her left ankle that prematurely ended her rookie season in 2020. In November of that year, Ionescu had surgery to remove scar tissue that was causing irritation in her left ankle. 

An injury to a star is not the way the Liberty had hoped to start this season, especially after how 2025 went.

The Liberty were plagued by injuries last season. Stewart (knee) and Jonquel Jones (ankle) each missed a month of action. Ionescu missed six games with separate neck and toe injuries. Betnijah Laney-Hamilton sat out the entire season to recover from knee surgery. Nyara Sabally was limited to 17 games due to a nagging knee injury.

Liberty guard Pauline Astier looks to pass the ball during a preseason game against the Sun on May 3, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images

Natasha Cloud and Kennedy Burke also missed time due to injuries, and Leonie Fiebich was gone for most of June to play in EuroBasket.

The absences resulted in former coach Sandy Brondello deploying 18 different starting lineups. 

The Liberty went 13-2 in the 15 games Jones, Stewart and Ionescu played together last season.

With Ionescu out of commission to start the season, the Liberty could have to rely more on rookie point guard Pauline Astier, who dazzled in her preseason debut Sunday.

Astier was assertive and confident in her play. She recorded 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting with four assists (two turnovers), a steal and a block in 22 minutes. 

Her chemistry with Marine Johannès was noticeable, and the Liberty outscored the Sun by 16 points when the two French players shared the court.

“She’s special,” DeMarco said of the 24-year-old Astier, who joined the team just last week after finishing her overseas season. “She knows the game. It’s some of the stuff you can’t teach and outside of her competitiveness, she just has a great feel for the game, and she elevates her teammates. And she’s done a really great job.”